Michaels named Sportsplex director

January 19, 2004|By Mike Dunn, Sports Editor

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GAYLORD - Bill Michaels was introduced Thursday as the new executive director of the Otsego County Sportsplex. Michaels, 45, has a solid background in business and marketing, along with a history of involvement in the community and with the Sportsplex.

"This is an opportunity for me to use the knowledge and experience I've acquired in business over the past 23 years," Michaels said. "I have a deep interest in athletics and business and this position incorporates both of those."

Sportsplex board president Ken Ames, interim director Mason Buckingham, and board members Dick Beachnau and Wayne Goodman were on hand Thursday with Michaels.

"We had a great pool of candidates, which says a lot about the caliber of people who were interested in serving at the Sportsplex,"Ames said. "We're very happy with the choice we made. Bill brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy. We were looking for the right person to take this thing, run with it, and make it better. We believe Bill is that person."

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"This sends a bold statement that the Sportsplex is a place of business, and must be run as such," Goodman added.

Michaels is a native of Kansas, but has spent most of his life in Michigan. He was raised in the Detroit area and graduated from Troy High School. After earning a bachelor degree in marketing and sales from Ferris State University in 1980, Michaels began a career in management with K-Mart Corporation. Since 1992, Michaels has served as the general manager of the Gaylord K-Mart.

Another aspect of Michaels' resumé that appealed to the board, aside from pure business experience, was his active involvement in the community. Michaels served on the United Way board of directors from 1993-2000 and was president of the board from 1998-99. He has also volunteered his time with various other organizations in the county, including AYSO Soccer, Little League baseball and the Otsego County Hockey Association (OCHA).

In addition, Michaels and his wife Deb have actively supported the Sportsplex. They helped to promote the facility before its doors ever opened, and they have served in various capacities ever since. Michaels is currently a member of the board of the Gaylord High School Hockey Boosters. He has also offered his services in scheduling, among other duties.

Michaels is the third person to fill the shoes of executive director. Norm Sommerfeld was director from the time the facility officially opened in the spring of 1995 to January of 2003, when he left to take a similar position in his hometown of Alpena. Ryan Sharpe was promoted from marketing director of the Sportsplex to take Sommerfeld's post in February, and Sharpe served as executive director from then until October. Mason Buckingham has been the interim director for the past two-and-a-half months.

As executive director, Michaels will oversee a staff of 40 employees, including five who are full-time. His duties include, among other things, overseeing personnel, scheduling, budgeting and marketing. He plans to focus much of his attention on the marketing end of the operation.

"One of the major goals we have is to increase the usership of the building," Michaels said. "As we increase the level of usage of the facility, we increase the level of income and that allows us to do more for the community."

In a prepared statement issued by the Sportsplex board to the media Thursday, the same point was made: "His (Michaels') appointment is in keeping with the Sportsplex board's goals of broadening the user base, providing a greater array of activities, accessing business/industry partnerships to sustain and grow the facility, and assessing future facility expansion possiblities."

The Bill Michaels File

€ Bill Michaels assumes the position of executive director of the Sportsplex on Feb. 1. He was selected from a pool of 66 applicants, including some from out of state.

€ Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas

€ Age: 45

€ Personal: Bill and his wife Deb, a teacher at Johannesburg-Lewiston, have three children: Ryan, a 2002 GHS graduate and student at Saginaw Valley State University; Beth, a GHS senior; and Nick, a GHS sophomore

€ Education: Received B.S. in marketing/sales from Ferris State University, 1980; graduate of Troy (Mich.) High School

€ Professional background: 23 years with Kmart Corporation, specializing in operations/management; general manager of Gaylord Kmart since 1992

€ Community activities: United Way Board of Directors 1993-2000 (President of the board 1998-99); actively involved in Otsego County Hockey Association (OCHA), Gaylord Blue Devils Hockey Boosters, Little League baseball and AYSO soccer as coach, officer and parent. Bill and Deb helped to promote the Sportsplex before the facility opened its doors, and they have volunteered their services in various capacities since the Sportsplex opened for business.

€ View of Sportsplex board: "Bill brings to the Sportsplex a keen knowledge of the Gaylord/Otsego County community, sound business and personnel management, and an undying passion for providing a quality recreation and wellness facility for Sportsplex patrons of all ages and skill levels."